Williams trains are so inexpensive, that I may consider buying some one of these days, and they have some pretty interesting locomotives. I was wondering, how are the Williams trains? Are they reliable? Are the TrueBlast sounds authentic? Are they as good as Lionel or MTH, or a step below them?
I own several Williams locomtives. They are inexpensive, but they are built well with all metal gears. They are extremely reliable, smooth runners that will pull almost anything you put behind them. The decoration (paint and graphics) is first rate. I think they are an incredible deal for the money. The Trueblast II sounds are ok, but truthfully, I’d prefer either an air whistle option for the steamers or an electronic horn like in the old post war diesels.
Jim
SchemerBob,
Williams trains are very well built; metal gears, can motors, prototypical designs, reliable, excellent pulling power for the money. For the price you do not get TMCC or DCS control system.
I have six Williams locomotives and have only repaired one once in about nine years. As for True Blast sounds there are at least three differant sound boards that have been made for True Blast, one is a basic, one is for a diesel loco, one is for a steam loco.
Personally I would rate Williams Trains above Lionel & MTH in quality, also I have never had to use the warrenty on a Williams product!
Lee F.
…like Pro-Bowl offensive linemen…[tup]
Have 4 of them and all good runners and pullers. No problems. Some people have used them only to run on layouts that allow children to run the trains, and they have held up just fine even after all the abuse.
laz57
Well, of course, this is really your personal call… especially in comparison to other brands. In my opinion, they are wonderful: reliable, near bullet-proof, and a great price - they are what I want: a modern equivalent to what Lionel offered in the 50s-70s.
I would describe them largely as reproductions - not as detailed nor complex electroncially as the equivalent models of other brands. There are a few exceptions to this of course.
I would judge TrueBlast sounds to be adequate - not authetic - my 027 GG1 has a strangled-sounding bell and only a long-long-short-long horn - just like other Williams dis-easels.
I posted these photos just yesterday on another topic.
This is a Williams Genesis Locomotive where I added TMCC and RS. This brute can pull stumps. The bulb is the only thing that has needed replaced in the last five years.
Note the antenna on the shell.
We added the black tape later and it keeps everything nice and tight especially during a derailment.
We had this open to add tint to the front windows.
My favorites are the postwar locos, but they do require quite a bit of maintenance. When I want to run trains for long periods of time or let my grandchildren run trains, I generally put on a Williams engine.
The Williams engines are very geed locos and their reproductions are my favorites. The paint on all my Williams locos are outstanding. I have never had to return a Williams loco for repair. The most work I ever had to do on their engines is tighten a loose screw in a 44-Tonner. I really like the fact that they are much simpler without all the TMCC or DCS electronics. They are just plain fun to run.
Enjoy…
Earl
What Jim said is perfect!!!1
Regarding scale…
How do the Williams locomotives rank on scale? Are they in line with Lionel’s traditional size or more on the standard size?
My AMTRAK Engine is supposedly scale. I know when it is with the scale MTH passenger cars it looks perfect. I think it may change from locomotive to locomotive.
Thanks Buckeye…I appreciate it.
I bought B&O passenger cars (lionel 9000 seriers) and then got a deal on williams a-b-a sharknoose engine set the engine was way to big it turns out the engine was like scale size so I turned around and bought 6 B&O passenger cars from them there lighted with silouttes in them but there 17.75" long each there great. I also bought there remake of the lionel virginia rectifier set now all that is like it was back in the 50’s and 60’s its beautiful and I got a set that looks like what you would have to go out and drop big bucks for for about $350.00 (discount I receive from lhs as member of train club)
I’m very happy with williams items and plan to put lionel command and sound in the aba very soon.
I have several and never had a problem. They don’t have the details of Atlas, MTH and the Scale Lionel but that is either a positive or negative depending on what you are looking for.
Many times when I run the trains for visitors, the lights are dimmed in the train room so that they can see the lighted accessories and passenger cars. Needless to say, you can’t see the lack of detail on the Williams Genesis until I turn up the room lights.
Great Deal! If I could buy all over again I would just get Williams. I only have 2 Williams Diesels out of 7 engines. My Lionel Railsounds GP9 is Ok but I think I just like the plain ole strong, solid good lookin diesels that Williams makes. I’d trade in a minute!!
I have owned several Williams trains. I have an SD 45 Wisconsin Central right now. It runs great, the horn is awful, and sometimes doesn’t play, the bell isn’t bad at all. The overall appearance is a little blander than more expensive locomotives, but it runs. The body doesn’t quite fit on the metal bottom properly. I had a Soo Line gp, that was just great and ran like the wind. In the end, the Wlliams Locomotives does what the others do, pull train cars, no bells or whistles, (pardon the pun) and affordable. I wish Williams trains made a Dash 9 Canadian National.
Davidvd59,
You will have to settle for a more popular roadname in a Dash 9 if you want a Williams locomotive, the new catalog don’t list a Canadian National.
Lee F.
My only complaint with Williams is not the products themselves…they’re great! It’s the availability. Seems like every loco I want is always out of stock. I’ve been trying forever to get a Williams FM Trainmaster in Jersey Central green (FM103). I just checked again and the Williams website says out of stock. The other main retailer, York trains, also shows it out of stock. [:(]
Dep
Try here. They are well known for their Williams inventory.